The first team in 2011 would have an immediate talent infusion with Khadim Samb joining the NME family. He would play with NME for 3 years and eventually grow up to sign a Division I scholarship with the University of Idaho. Unfortunately, the team lost every game that first season from May through July, an inauspicious start, finally winning one game in a tournament in Stone Mountain. But the growth in each player was quite evident - the first year ended with the kids winning the final two tournaments they played in, beating teams that had beaten us rather badly earlier in the summer.

Many People Have Contributed over the years to the Program's success.

The biggest contributor and perhaps most important contributor is not a coach or players - but our Web Guy - Dave Lemke! A former linebacker at NC State, Dave is the best, most knowledgeable, most talented web designer you could find. A chance meeting in November 2010 and then a get-together meeting at Starbucks in Kennesaw resulted in a relationship that has lasted for years. Dave has provided the best web services in the business, and is always ready to serve our kids and our program. One day he is going to get a big party for all he has done for us. Other contributors are too many to name, but many thanks go out to everyone who has made NME what it is today.

2012-2014

Teams grew over the first few years.  2012 saw a 3rd grade and 4th grade team. 2012 also saw the addition of new staff such as Rob Brookshire - a critical component to our expansion over the years and eventually becoming a co-Director of NME. New players, increased revenue, and by 2013 NME had 4 teams.....by 2014 seven teams......and by 2015 the biggest expansion yet - growing to ten teams! In 2017, we reached our full complement of 3rd-11th grade teams, multiple teams in several age brackets, and our first 17U team. Since 2017, NME has always fielded 12 or more teams every travel basketball season, and typically the complete 3rd-11th grade age groups.

Expansion: 2015-2017.

NME grew from one team in 2011 to 10 teams in 2015, to the 12-14 team average starting in 2017.  That expansion came with the addition of an unprecedented number of high-end talented coaches. Laron Johnson and Monte Erritt joined the 2023 team’s staff – Erritt would become an NME Head Coach and a member of the NME Board of Advisors. Laron would move on to other programs and eventually former NBA star Tony Delk’s AAU program.  DeShaun Ford joined in 2014 and has coached multiple teams as well as serving on the NME Board of Advisors. Multiple former DI and DII stars have joined the NME staff, as well as local HS coaching legends in between their GHSA HS responsibilities. This coaching talent has helped NME produce over 30 college signees since 2018, probably the most of any local, independent travel basketball program.

Expansion also included out-growing our facilities from the early days. We began to out-grow Shiloh and Dodgen Elementary around Year Four, 2014, and over time NME teams now practice and utilize multiple  public high school facilities in the NW Suburbs as well as Parks and Rec facilities, other private schools, and Lakepoint Champions Center. 

Travel, Success – 2017-2023.

By 2014, NME teams were travelling throughout the United States and enjoying great success against some of the best programs in the country. In 2015, NME's 14U program became the first team to defeat a Nike EYBL shoe team in the Championship game of the Orlando Classic (FL), coming from 21 points behind at the half to defeat Houston Hoops 71-62. In 2018, the NME 14U Girls were declared the NTBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, winning 51 straight games and finishing 55-1 on the season. In the 2020 COVID season, NME's 17U Boys program went 57-4 with 4 Division I signees, losing in the Prep Hoops title game at Lakepoint to national Adidas shoe power Atlanta Celtics 64-61.

To date, NME teams have traveled and played in major events in locations such as Chicago, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Orlando, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Washington DC, Lexington, and New Jersey, among many others.  NME's focus and commitment are on local players getting better at the game they love, giving them an outlet to play grassroots basketball.  Not all NME teams reach such win/loss success, but we are blessed to have many that do! 

As of 2023, 1,712 roster spots have been filled for NME teams. Since many players are returning players each year, NME has had 478 families who have come through the program as of 2023. ALL of our kids, ALL who have started and finished with NME, were admitted to a college or university and many are now joining the professional ranks of their community. 

Conclusion - Too Many People to Thank!

NME's success is because of our players, our parents, our staff, team moms, local school staff, friends, family, local Pastors and all of the support given over the years by so many people! We have been truly blessed. NME has truly become a big family! Not everyone who joins NME stays with the program, but 90+% over the years have made NME home. We are thankful for everyone who has been a part of our basketball family!

If we tried to thank everyone, we would miss a lot of names through mistake and forgetfulness, but there are a few that should be mentioned for their long-time, enduring role, in the success of NME. They include:

1. The Founders, Dave Lemke, and Rob Brookshire, as listed above.

2. Greg Cherry - Great man currently a local HS Basketball Coach and retired AD who held down the fort for our middle school teams which would end up becoming our first multiple college signee class.

3. Ryan Dyer - Local Athletic Director and Assistant Principal - long-time NME coach, great honorable man of faith and high character.

4. DeShaun Ford - long time local basketball guru, NME coach, and member of the NME Board of Advisors.

5. Monte Erritt - Another long-time local coach, NME coach, and member of the NME Board of Advisors.

6. Mike Forcade - NME coach, another great man who jumps in and helps with every situation, and member of the NME Board of Advisors.

7. James Earnest - highly successful NME girls program coach and member of the NME Board of Advisors.

8. Laron Johnson – great coach, huge contributor and long-time supporter.

Thank you, everyone!